All Turtles Message Board

baduncan · Guest Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Posts: 1

I recently adopted a rescued box turtle. We live in NE Florida and she lives in an outdoor pen. The problem is we have a huge amount of ants in this area and they love her pen. As soon as I set food out they come out to get out. I don't think she is in danger, but they are fire ants if she and they are competing for food then I'm afraid they'll win. Is there a safe way to control them, or is it a pointless battle in this environment?

STRAYKINGFISHER · Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:42 am Post subject:

I would try building a moat for the pen, not a big one, just wide and deep enough for the ants to think twice about getting at the food, ofcourse, evaporation and water being sucked into the ground is a problem, but maybe lining the moat with some kind of plastic so that the water stays where you put it.
It may sound odd, but that is what I do to my dog's food dish, I put it in a
wider dish and then fill the lower one with water, and poof, no more ants in the food. Laughing

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